Cock Roach Clusters

Chapter 6: The Black Lake

Albus POV:

The task was only a couple of hours away but Gellert insisted we read in the library.

'You need to get ready!' I told him, 'The task is in the matter of hours,'

Gellert smirked, 'Exactly, I vant to relax beforehand. This is my favourite place in the castle...do you know vhy?'

I shook my head.

'Because this is vhere you seem most happy.' He grinned before walking off to peruse the shelves, leaving me a blushing mess. I mumbled gibberish into my book but managed to shut my mouth before he came back with a divination book.

'Are you nervous?' I asked him once I had regained my ability to speak.

He took no interest, 'Not really, I don't get nervous,'

I laughed to myself, 'Of course you don't...so how do you feel about it then?'

Gellert shrugged, 'I'm excited to prove myself,'

I tilted my head curiously, 'Who are you proving yourself to?'

Before he could answer, Professor Lacey interrupted our conversation, 'Albus, could you please come with me,'

'What is it?' I asked worriedly, 'Did I get a bad score on my last test? I knew I should have revised the rotation of the stars for a third time but I thought I knew it off by heart...is it a spelling mistake? I'm so sorry, I'll do anything to make up for it. I'll have four essays on constellations on your desk by the morning,' I began to walk off to go start the work when the professor stopped me.

He laughed, 'No, No, Albus. You're work is always exquisite. I need you for something else,'

'Oh...' my face went red because of my rant, 'Ok,' With that, I followed the professor out of the library. But I was still longing to be with Gellert, I hoped it would be quick.

Lacey took me to his office and sat down at the desk, gesturing for me to take a seat, my hope of it being quick evaporating.

'The trial is in a few hours...I'm sure you've heard, by now, the nature of the task?' He asked me.

Still puzzled by the point of this conversation, i answered, 'The basic outline...but why do you need to speak to me about it?'

The professor placed in front of me a piece of paper with lots of writing on it. I glanced at him with a look of question.

'This is a contract, you see, the contestants will battle through the obstacles that inhabit the water of the lake in order to rescue a person each. We need consent,' He explained to me.

I was still confused, 'But what does this have to do with-' then it dawned upon me, 'Oh...you mean me!?'

He nodded, 'That would be correct Albus, yes,'

I took out my quill from my bag and began filling in the forms. I was very scared about it but if I was helping Gellert achieve his dreams then it was worth it. I wouldn't let him down. Once the forms were signed, I anxiously watched as the professor waved his wand and I fell into a deep unconsciousness that felt as if I had just became extremely tired and sunk into a slumber.

————————————————————————————————————————————————

Gellert POV:

I didn't bother waiting for Albus to return, I could tell by the tone in the professors voice that it was going to take a while. Instead, I packed up my books and went to go find my friends who were, to no surprise, together in the great hall.